Some Inane Events

...and I nonetheless feel the need to report....

Today I become the proud owner of this adorable phone!

So it's the last day my Razr and I will be together. It's been 2 1/2 years...it seems complacent, but I know it's just hiding its feelings and is really sad to be leaving me. Or sitting on a shelf in my apartment until the next time I move and look at it 4 or 5 times before I finally decide to throw it away. But the times we shared...

I've been sick, so I stayed in last night. Decided I was sick (ha! homonym!) of living in my gross apartment, so I thoroughly cleaned my bathroom. I finished just moments before the water in my apt completely cut off. Lucky me. I panicked for a moment, taking mental inventory of my friends within a one mile radius and whom I could hit up for a sink if I had to. Then the revelation came: this is why I live next door to my gym! I took my stuff next door, used the LVAC bathroom to brush my teeth and wash my face...which made me feel like a hobo with an upscale gym membership. Happily, my water came back on in the middle of the night. But I was all set to shower at the gym this morning. Good story.

Later today I am doing away with my long hair. So much separation in my life!

And finally, I'm biting the bullet and doing ref training at CSz. After more than two years there, I think I finally know the show. Well, once I find out with this 5 Things game is all about... (3 people got that "joke"). Bits aside, I'm really excited for that.

This guy

Had Eric won best ref...In lieu of that trophy, he gets this one....

CSz Banquet, plus...

Finally, another banquet. En route, girls in a car!! Woflson's there in spirit, since it's her car.
This Sarah will just have to do... The girl version of Team Fun! You heard me, guys. I dare you to be this pretty though...Funniest thing ever. Right before they bring our dinner out, this jerk waiter comes, takes our untouched bread, and gives it to another table. No eye contact, no apologies, nothing. What?? And look how preemptively angry I am about it. Meanwhile, I have this great story about binding... (only my table gets that joke)


PLUS...this past weekend I had the privelege of sitting in with GreenCo for the home matinee. It was a great time. Here are the fearless leaders, music director and director, Boaz and Bill...so much genius on a single backstage futon... Final plus... HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DAD!!!

Vegas! (with pictures)

My trip to Vegas...or a s-ton of pictures...

Pre-trip, I meet up with the Simon family of Westin, FL in Chicago for a wedding. I got to meet Ethan Simon for the very first time! What a delightul family. We walked through the LP Zoo, enjoying the beautiful summer weather. It was really great to see Danny and Honit. (Also in this picture, the next addition to the Simon family...guess where...)

We begin at Midway airport in Chicago. My travel looks like this...My dreams-come-true look like this... (I found a DVD of Girls Just Wanna Have Fun, one of the best movies of all time, at the Minneapolis-St. Paul airport. It promptly became my personal in-flight movie) Oh yeah, I also got bumped up to first class from MN to LV. Oh man...real glass for my water!On the phone with my dad from MN:

me: I'm in Minneapolis.

dad: Cool. The ol' Minneapolis-St. Paul huh...they should have a baseball team and call them...the Cities.

In Vegas, I get introduced to my parents' lovely new home. All their houses, no matter where they move, tend to look the same. I always feel like a kid again when I'm staying with them, and for those few days I forget what it's like to pay bills and live in a studio. So thanks, mom and dad! Also...let's play this game. My family is SO Catholic... How Catholic are they?

They're SO Catholic that walking through their house is like playing "Where's Jesus?" Only Jesus doesn't wear a striped scarf. Actually, as Catholics, it's a bit more like playing "Where's Mary" or "Name that Saint." And there's a cross over every door, like a Catholic version of the mezuzah (Jew friends shout out!).

Stratosphere! 108 stories up...of course I will ride this thing that hangs over the side of the building. And I'm afraid to fly...

Yep. Just keep walking straight....
Yay! Second City Vegas!! Thanks, Robyn, for getting us tickets. My family now really believes that I "know people." Me, realizing what a jerk I am for not taking an actual picture with Robyn or Michael. I'm a terrible Chicago-Vegas ambassador.
At mom's work. My dad and mom each doing what they do best. Drinking coffee and taking pictures, respectively.My reaction to my entire immediate family being in one room for the first time in YEARS...Sisters! Amy and I are each the embodiment of either side of our family. I'm a black-German Sullivan and she's an Irish Randell. It makes sense.
The occasion for the trip...Kyle! I haven't seen my nephew in 5 years and look at him. All grown-up. It's like watching a soap opera and there's a little kid in it and then they write him out for a while "away at a boarding school" or whatnot, and then a year or two later that bring on some Tiger Beat actor to play the cute, new teen on the show and you're expected to believe this kid has really aged that much in the last couple years. It's just like that. Except Kyle really has aged 5 years. I digress. It was great to see him again. He's pretty awesome, and I'm not just saying that because I'm his aunt.

I even made it back in time for the Taste of Chicago and the 4th of July! I'm tired.

Home.

I came back from Vegas with even money. But barely. It's nice to be home and simultaneously nice to look forward to another vacay to Maine. When I'm in Chicago, I want out...when I'm out, I want back in. Oh boy.

Pretty fun weekend. I had a great 4th at the Taste, enjoyed the CSz show, however strange the venue. Visited a bbq, ended the day at Tamara's (sorry for falling asleep...long day). Had a great show with GreenCo on Saturday. They were super fun to play with. Thank you Vinnie, Tam and Eric for coming to see it. It was definitely the highlight of my weekend. Spent the evening, where else, at CSz. Sunday was quiet. Gym, nice weather, saw Tam's show at the Skybox. Hey Pat, thanks for letting me into your booth. You heard me.

I've got pics from Vegas and from the weekend coming...drawback of not having the internet at home. So much planning is required.

Thirty days and counting till I leave for Maine...

The Best Thing I've Seen in a While

Tonight we went to an art opening for a friend of my mom's who recently published an amazing book of pictures (I'll post the link later, it's worth checking out) of British Invasion bands. At the same gallery was an entire room of Johnny Cash pictures and records. This was my favorite thing in the room, a note written by Johnny Cash, intended for June Carter.



"I woke up this morning with you on my mind"

Surprise!

I'm in Vegas!! Well, not a surprise to most of my friends, but to my sister and nephew whom I did a good job of convincing I couldn't be here while they were visiting. The problem...my dad has a terrible poker face (or poker voice...over the phone) and so she suspected I'd be here. But a good surprise nonetheless. It's been a great few days. Rides at the top of the Stratosphere, the Second City show (yay Robyn and Michael!), Stomp, bowling and a lucky streak at a blackjack table. I'll post some pics when I get home with my computer. Mostly of my grown-up nephew. Last time I saw him he was 10. Now he's a 15 year-old football player/model/musician/honor roll student/car expert. Not kidding...he can do anything. Sadly he's a Republican, but you can't win em all, huh. Ha! I hope he reads this...

Back in Chicago tomorrow. I can't wait for the 4th!!